Connecting with History

INTACH’s rock art workshop at Kidaripatti was an interesting slice of history revisited for the youngsters

January 28, 2015 05:28 pm | Updated 05:28 pm IST - MADURAI:

Revisiting the past: Participants at the Rock Art Workshop. Photo: Special Arrangement

Revisiting the past: Participants at the Rock Art Workshop. Photo: Special Arrangement

That the Temple Town houses a rich and diverse heritage we all know. But how many of us actually set about exploring our own city? The INTACH Madurai Chapter took a group of curious learners to Kidaripatti near Alagar Koil that has red ochre paintings on its rocks. It is said man’s first form of art during stone age were the red ochre paintings on rocks.

Co-Convenor Mr. P. Rajesh Kanna and Treasurer Mr. JayeshMetha led the trek to the foothills of Alagarmalai with 100 members including NSS students from Thiagarajar College.

The group was briefed on how the Alagarmalai changed names through history from Solaimalai, Ingundram, Idapagiri, Thirumaalkundru, Thirumalirunsolai to Alagarmalai, which has the most interesting details in the Jain cave located inside. While Alagarmalai looks like a sleeping Buddha, the cave is eye-shaped cave with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on the peak and around the Jain beds. The marvellous historic site made a perfect venue for the rock art workshop.

Briefing the trekkers, Rajesk Kanna said the hill was occupied by tribals before the Jain monks took shelter here. The rock art on the walls date to 1st century B.C. and depictinteresting figures like bird-headed man, different animals and man-animal conflicts. The paintings which are said to be more than 5,000 years old were done with animal tail brushes and colours blending animal fat and tree gum. History records that the Jains came here and started a school in the cave in the 9 Century B.C.

This cave is considered to be different from the other Jain caves around because it carries the name of Madurai as “Mathirai”. On the top of the cave, there are inscriptions like " MathiraiPonKollan Adan Adan ", which denotes the name of a goldsmith from Madurai, Adan Adan. Another inscription " MathiraikeyupaVanikanViyakkanKaanathikan ", names a salt merchant named Viyakkan.

There are many more such inscriptions bearing the names of a camphor and sugar merchant, Nedumallan, and an iron merchant, Santhan, who sold agrarian tools. There are also some rare signs and symbols in the cave which belong to the Sangam period, Rajesh Kanna pointed out.

The NSS members took an initiative to scrub off the names, slogans written by people on the rock. They used salt papers to remove the writings.

Such vandalising acts by people spoil our heritage sites, added Rajesh.

Jayesh informed that INTACT plans to conduct more such treks and events to raise awareness about our rich history in people.

A participant from USA, Christa said she was excited to explore the tribal arts at Kidaripatti. “I have studied many things about India, and especially about Madurai. Where I live there are not many historical monuments. I feel blessed to see these kind of historical places.”

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